Author
Topic: Please Boycott Walmart On Thursday (Read 2583 times)

I don't work there. No one I know works there. I justdon't like the way they are messing with one of our fewreal family holidays. I have worked retail for the last 17years. Thanksgiving and Christmas (and Easter, the 4th ofJuly, Labor Day, Memorial Day and New Year's Day) aretimes that families gather and celebrate. Dinners, orbarbecues, picnics, reunions, maybe some sports on TV,you name it - that's what we do on these days (plus somechurch services). When I started working retail 17 years ago, no one wasopen for business on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter orNew Years Day except a few convenience stores. Now lookat the private sector: Black Firday is turning into BlackThursday. Walmart (and other retailers) want you to shopon Thanksgiving at 6:00 PM. Ten years ago it was 6:00AMon Friday. What's next? In a year or two it will start as 2:00PM on Thanksgiving. Our local MacDonalds has a sign on their door that saysthey will be open ALL DAY on Thanksgiving - and they meanit, as they are now open 24 hours a day. Do we really needa quarter pounder on the one day a year when people eat abig dinner at home? Wendy's is open on New Years Day -when most people sleep in late, and the men watch collegefootball all day. Going out for Burgers is NOT part of thisritual. What is this doing to the people who work in these places?How much disruption is it causing to their families? What ifyou had to drive an hour to get to Grandma's house? Howcan you eat there at 1:00PM, and then get back home in timefor an afternoon shift at work? Don't forget that if Walmartopens its doors a 4:00PM, many employees will have to startworking at 3:00PM. I'm not saying shop elsewhere this holiday season. I'msuggesting that the way to stop the erosion of these few daysof special family gatherings is to skip going out to shop or dineon these days. There are plenty of opportunities to frequentthese businesses on the days before and after a holiday.

Very nice post Signal and we thank you because it's true. I don't care how busy you think you are, take time for family and friends, the retailers can wait! Our American values are what built this country as well as our heros who willingly enforce them with their lives. Happy Holidays everyone !

I totally agree with all that has been said. For you baby boomers do remember when NOTHING was open on Sunday??? My mom worked in a grocery store and at least she was home on Sundays and holidays. I think we might have had a Lawsons open on Sunday just for bread and milk etc. I also would not shop in any store open Thanksgiving. If I cannot be organized to get waht I need ahead of time then I guess we will do without.

I received Sundays flyers with my paper this morning and there is aKmart ad...they will be open all day Thanksgiving.. It sez doorbustersstart at 6 a.m. So, I will not shop Kmart or Sears, and maybe next year, if enough people boycot them, they will close and let their employeeshave a holiday with their families.

That's why I shop Amazon. did all my Christmas shopping last year on Amazon and got unbelievable deals, free shipping, no tax and delivered right to my house. Saved time, gas and didn't have to deal with crowds. I could shop when I had the time and when the kids weren't around. So love Amazon. Groupon has some great deals also. I know there will be those people who will chastise me that I am not giving the locals my business, I will shop where I get the best deals and if local businesses can give me those deals, I will certainly patronize those businesses. Everyone is out for the best deal.

Hondo, I even found it better than buying anything since there an no little kids anymore. Give them all cash and let them have fun after Christmas and they get twice the stuff for what I would have spent before Christmas. Of course the wife wants stuff....

As long as you are going to set conditions for holidays, how about veterans on Veterans Day.

If you are a public employee, you likely get a paid day off for veterans day regardless if you are a veteran or not. On the other hand, If you are employed in the private sector, even if you are a veteran, you probably do not get a day off and you probably have to work.

So are we actually going to honor veterans or not?

I suggest we give all veterans the day off (with pay) and let the remaining work force (private and public) carry the work load. No reason to give the non-veteran public sector a day off just because they work for the government.

Re: the comment on Veterans Day. I am a Vet, and Idon't remember the Army giving me the day off on Nov.11th while I was serving in West Germany. Apparently the U.S. Government does not considermembers of the Armed Forces still serving as Veterans.

Re: the comment on Veterans Day. I am a Vet, and Idon't remember the Army giving me the day off on Nov.11th while I was serving in West Germany. Apparently the U.S. Government does not considermembers of the Armed Forces still serving as Veterans.

You aren't considered a "Veteran" until you go off of active duty. We have service men and women who are "veterans" of specific actions (gulf war, Korean Conflict, WWII etc) but until you serve your initial service commitment, or are discharged earlier (honorably so) or retire, you are not a Veteran.

I assume you understand that my remarks were fully intended to honor the service and commitment of veterans.

However, your response did cause me to search the net regarding the definition of veterans. At lease from the government's standpoint, there doesn't seem to be a very clear answer.

The link below includes some interesting reading with associated responses from members of the service that just seems to generate additional confusion on the subject (which is apparently unclear to many). Thought you might be interested.